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MHA drops domestic air travel from prohibited activities in lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has removed domestic air travel from the list of prohibited activities during the ongoing nationwide lockdown.

The order came after Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri yesterday said that domestic flights will resume in a calibrated manner from May 25 (Monday).

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued a letter in this regard yesterday.

“In para 2 (i), domestic air travel of passengers is deleted from the list of prohibited activities. Detailed guidelines for operations of airports and air travel of passengers, will be issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the order read.

The domestic flights will be resuming after around two months, since their suspension on March 25. Only cargo flights, medical evacuation flights and special flights approved by the DGCA were allowed to operate after the lockdown.

However, no announcement has been made regarding international flight operations and they remain suspended till further orders.

COVID-19 cases in India surge to 1.12 lakh, death toll at 3,435

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 112,359 and fatalities from the virus has gone up to 3,435, according to Union Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, 5,609 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country, the highest single day rise.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases jumped to 39,297, followed by Tamil Nadu with 13,191 cases, and Gujarat with 12,537 cases so far.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of deaths, 1,390, followed by 749 in Gujarat and 267 in Madhya Pradesh.

The coronavirus cases in national capital have increased to 11,088, the Health Ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Rajasthan (6,015), Madhya Pradesh (5,735), and Uttar Pradesh (5,175).

The ministry also said, at least 40 per cent of the total coronavirus cases were recovered from the disease.

So far, number of active cases stands at 63,624 and 45,300 people have been cured/discharged.

Apart from this, the ICMR said that a total of 25,12,388 samples have been tested so far, and the testing capacity has been scaled up to 1 lakh tests per day.

Meanwhile, the Indian Railways will start operations of 200 passenger trains. These trains shall run from June 1 and booking of all these trains will commence from 10 am today.

UPSC prelims date to be decided on Jun 5

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today said that the date for this year’s civil services preliminary examination is likely to be decided on June 5.

The prelims exam, which was supposed to be held on May 31 was deferred due to Covid outbreak and subsequent lockdown.

In a special meeting held today, the commission took notice of the extension of several restrictions and decided that it will not be possible to resume examinations and interviews, for the present.

The Commission, however, took note of the progressive relaxations being announced by the Central Government and various States and has decided to review the situation once more, after the fourth period of lockdown.

“With a view to giving some clarity to candidates of various examinations and interviews, which have been deferred over the last two months, the Commission will issue a revised schedule of examinations in its next meeting to be held on June 5, 2020,” UPSC said in a statement.

Details of the new calendar of examinations will be published on the UPSC website, after the Commission’s meeting on June 5, 2020.

Govt extends PMVVY social security scheme for senior citizens by 3 yrs

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New Delhi (NVI): In good news for senior citizens, the Union Cabinet today approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) up to 31st March 2023, for a further period of three years.

The government had extended the scheme up to March 2020 in the Union Budget 2018-19. The decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today. The scheme is aimed at welfare and to enable old age income security for Senior Citizens.

The approval will allow initially an assured rate of return of 7.40 % per annum for the year 2020-21 per annum and thereafter to be reset every year, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

The Cabinet has also given its approval for annual reset of assured rate of interest with effect from April 1st of financial year in line with revised rate of returns of Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS) upto a ceiling of 7.75% with fresh appraisal of the scheme on breach of this threshold at any point.

The income security scheme for senior citizens is implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).

It intends to give an assured minimum pension to senior citizens (60 years and above) based on an assured return on the purchase price/subscription amount.

The minimum investment has also been revised to Rs 1,56,658 for pension of Rs.12,000/- per annum and Rs.1,62,162/- for getting a minimum pension amount of Rs.1000/- per month under the scheme.

Konark town, Sun Temple in Odisha to be 100% solarised

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) today said that the Central Government has launched a scheme for 100 per cent solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha.

R K Singh, Union Minister of State for Power, new and renewable energy, said, “Government of India launched the Scheme with an objective to take forward the Prime Minister’s vision to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’, to convey a message of synergy between the modern use of solar energy and the ancient Sun Temple and the importance of promoting solar energy.”

Under the scheme, a 10 MW grid-connected solar project will be set up. Various solar off-grid applications like solar trees, solar drinking water kiosks, off-grid solar power plants with battery storage etc will be set up with a 100% Central Financial Assistance (CFA) support of around Rs 25 Crores from Centre through Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will fun, read an official statement.

Implementation of this project will be done by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), the ministry said.

1,773 ‘Shramik Special’ trains ferried over 23.5 lakh migrants home: Railways

New Delhi (NVI): A total of 1773 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalised from various states across the country since May 1, carrying more than 23.5 lakh passengers back home, the Ministry of Railways said today.

“These 1773 trains were originated from various states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh UT, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry UT, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal,” the Ministry said in a statement today.

Yesterday, a record 205 Shramik trains were run by the Railways from various states across the country with more than 2.5 lakh passengers, the Ministry said.

These trains were terminated in various States like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.

The Rail ministry said that proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water, it added.

Class 10, 12 board exams exempted from lockdown measures: Amit Shah

Amit Shah meets farmer leaders
File Photo: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that considering the interest of a large number of students, the Government has exempted Class 10 and 12 board exams from lockdown measures, although social distancing must be adhered to for safety purpose.

Taking to Twitter, the Home Minister wrote: “Taking into consideration the academic interest of large number of students, it has been decided to grant exemption from the lockdown measures to conduct Board examination for classes 10th & 12th, with few conditions like social distancing, face mask etc, for their safety.”

In this regard, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a letter to Chief Secretaries of all states informing about the government’s decision to allow holding of the board exams for students of Class 10 and Class 12 under certain conditions.

The Ministry has stated that states will be required to arrange for special buses to take students to and from examination centres.

It was further stated that students will have to mandatorily follow some conditions – such as social distancing, the use of hand sanitisers and the wearing of face masks.

The government has, however, said that no exam centres will be permitted in containment zones.

As opening of schools had been prohibited under the guidelines on lockdown measures, the annual board examinations being conducted by various Boards for Class 10 and 12 had been suspended earlier.

Coronavirus cases exceed 26,000 in Bangladesh; 386 dead

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus in Bangladesh has reached 386 after 16 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 26,738 after 1,617 new infections were reported during this period.

In the last 24 hours, 43 coronavirus testing laboratories across the country tested 10,207 samples.

Meanwhile, 408 coronavirus-infected people were reported to have recovered in the country in the last 24 hours.

Bangladesh has been recording an increasing number of cases over the past few weeks. The first cases were announced on March 8 and the health authorities confirmed the first death on March 18.

492 new Covid-19 cases reported in Afghanistan, total at 8,145

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases with 492 new cases, taking the overall tally to 8,145 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

In the last 24 hours, 10 COVID-19 patients have died, bringing the total deaths in the country to 187.

Of the 482 new cases, 262 were reported in Kabul, 59 in Herat, 33 in Balkh, 30 in Baghlan, 28 in Takhar, 14 in Jawzjan, 10 in Paktia, 10 in Nangarhar, 6 in Logar, 2 in Ghazni, 9 in Parwan, 4 in Farah, 9 in Panjshir, 5 in Kapisa, 7 in Kunar and 4 in Sar-e-Pul.

Kabul, the Afghan capital, recorded its worst day after 262 of 522 tests came back positive. The city is the country’s worst affected by COVID-19 and, despite a government authorised lockdown, streets are still crowded, as per media reports.

The country’s Health Ministry said, over 25,700 samples have been tested so far, which analysts say is too low a number when compared to the country’s population.

So far, 930 patients have been cured or discharged across the country.

J&K: 2 BSF jawans killed in terrorist attack in Srinagar

Kashmir
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Abid Bashir 

Srinagar (NVI): Two BSF jawans were killed in a terrorist attack in the Soura area on the outskirts of Srinagar in Kashmir today, a police official said.

The incident took place at 5.30 pm, the police official said, adding that terrorists targetted two BSF men deployed for enforcing lockdown, close to SKIMS Soura hospital. They were shifted to the same hospital after getting hit, he said.

SKIMS medical superintendent Dr Farooq Jan said that both the soldiers succumbed to their wounds, as they had multiple bullet injuries.

Police sources said that their service rifles were also snatched.

Meanwhile, top police officials have rushed to the spot to assess the situation and the area has been sealed. A search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.

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